impotence

noun im·po·tence \ ˈim-pə-tən(t)s \

|Updated on: 28 Jun 2018

Definition of impotence

: the quality or state of being impotent: such as

a : lack of power, strength, or vigor : weakness

… the growing impotence of governments in the face of corporate willfulness and regional factionalism.
—Alan Wexelblat

b : an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to engage in sexual intercourse because of failure to have or maintain an erection : erectile dysfunction

See impotence defined for kids

Examples of impotence in a Sentence

the congressional committee's essential impotence in affecting the management of the war was frustrating to its members

Recent Examples of impotence from the Web

Feelings of desperation and impotence are being felt throughout Central America, where the lawlessness, endemic poverty and levels of gang violence akin to war zones that have driven so many families from their homes show little signs of abating.

— Washington Post, "Violence keeps Central Americans coming to US despite Trump," 21 June 2018
Uruguay's attacking impotence forced Oscar Tabarez to make two changes before the hour mark, with Nahitan Nandez and Giorgian de Arrascaeta replaced by Carlos Sanchez and Cristian Rodriguez.

— SI.com, "Egypt 0-1 Uruguay: La Celeste Start With a Win as Gimenez Header Breaks Pharaohs' Hearts," 15 June 2018
It was fueled by physician ignorance and impotence, the habit of looking askance at patients whose symptoms could not be explained, and the arrival in the U.S. of German psychoanalysts who were disciples of Sigmund Freud.

— jim carrier, STAT, "Lobotomies were once used to treat this gut disease, part of a shameful medical history," 12 June 2018
That signing's top attribute had better be goal-scoring, because the Sounders simply can't sustain with this level of attacking impotence.

— avi creditor, SI.com, "The MLS XI, Week 14: Don't Hold Your Breath for an MLS Cup Threematch," 4 June 2018
Prostate cancer surgery in particular can have severe results, including incontinence and impotence.

— steven petrow, Washington Post, "Watching but not treating cancer can be hard. Sometimes it’s the right approach.," 20 May 2018
For a man so adept in the ways of power, LBJ experienced 1968 as a long year of impotence.

— alan wolfe, The New Republic, "A Most Violent Year," 18 May 2018
After the fall of the Soviet Union fed fears of economic chaos and political impotence, Vladimir Putin answered the call for a restoration of the Russia that had been the center of an empire for three centuries.

— ian bremmer, Time, "The 'Strongmen Era' Is Here. Here’s What It Means for You," 3 May 2018
Rage at the impotence of a medical establishment that had no answers for her sister.

— eileen mcnamara, BostonGlobe.com, "How Eunice Kennedy Shriver parlayed her famous name into a legacy of public service," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impotence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of impotence

15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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impotence Synonyms

IMPOTENCE Defined for Kids

impotence

noun im·po·tence \ ˈim-pə-təns \

Definition of impotence for Students

: the quality or state of lacking power or strength

Medical Dictionary

impotence

noun im·po·tence \ ˈim-pət-ən(t)s \

medical Definition of impotence

1 : the quality or state of not being potent

drug-resistant bacteria are a virulent indicator of the growing impotence of antibiotics

2 : an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to engage in sexual intercourse because of failure to have or maintain an erection — called also erectile dysfunction